Simon Bolivar

Simón Bolívar (1783–1830) was a Venezuelan military and political leader central to the Spanish American wars of independence. Known as “El Libertador,” he helped lead campaigns that secured independence for territories that became Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. Bolívar was a principal architect of Gran Colombia, a short-lived republic uniting much of northern South America, and served as its president. He also held leadership roles in Peru and in the creation of Bolivia, which was named in his honor. His writings and speeches argued for republican government and regional unity, though his later years were marked by political conflict and disillusionment.